Taranaki herald. TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1907. JAPAN AND KOREA. .

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13482, 23 July 1907, Page 4

Taranaki herald. TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1907. JAPAN AND KOREA. .

The relations between Japan and Korea are becoming strained almost to a breaking point. Korea until 1894 acknowledged the suzerainty of China, but during the next decade she was an independent country. Qn February 23rd, 1904, an agreement with Japan was signed, Korea undertaking to adopt the advice of Japan in regard to improvement in administration, and thq Japanese undertook to ensure' the safety of the Imperial Household of Korea, and guaranteed the independence and territorial integrity of the Korean Empire. 'Six months later another agreement was signed, Korea undertaking to regulate her finance and her foreign relations according to the advice of Japanese advisers, and to consult the Japanese Government before making treaties or conventions with other Powers, or granting concessions to ox making contracts with foreigners. In November, 1905, a treaty between* Korea and Japan was signed, providing that Japan should control and direct the external relations and .affairs of Korea. Commencing wjtli giving advise and protection, ,the Japanese*' cleverly extended their influenoe in Korea until they practically possess the country. Apparently, however, they have not succeeded in gaining the confidence of the people. They have no doubt effected some measure of reform in the administration, but all for their own gain. They have built a great railway intersecting the country from north to south — and have appropriated much of the land on either side of the track. They have established Japanese Courts for the administration of justice — and where Japanese and Koreans are parties to cases the Japanese are favoured. They promised an open door to trade — and practically boycott all other traders but their own countrymen. | They have lent money to Korea — at very high rates of interest and to make it ! more habitable for themselves. They maintain a considerable army and a very large force of police in Korea — making the Koreans pay them much more than they would receive in their own country. They are developing the resources of Korea in a very energetic manner — and pocketing the profits. On the other hand they have failed to check the barbarities of the Korean prisons and to protect the peasantry from Korean officials, the worst of whom still flourish. Under the circumstances it is small wonder that the people are almost in a state of revolt against Japanese rule, and that they are burning and sacking the residences of the Ministers who have practically sold them to Japan. The treatment of the 1 Koreans by the Japanese officials, traders; and'' others 1 is

that of a tyrant towards an inferior subject race. Even in the schools the education is all in Japanese, and the Japanese are abusing their newly-found power.